Maybe this is a total noob question, but how does one draw really nice McDonalds arches? I always struggle with simple stuff like this that I -know- y'all ninjas can do it in like 3 moves. So... what's the trick?

I was told about XPath... and the demo looks -great- but with everything in Illustrator, it -can't- require a $150 plug just to do something like this, right?

Easiest way that I can think of, especially for beginner's is draw out a circle, split the sides and delete 1/2 of the circle. If you want 2 arches, copy/paste the 1/2 of the circle and move it into place and merge the two points.

It can take a bit of practice to do the same with the pen tool, and draw the arches, but it can be done. Just try, try, try...

The split circle trick is great. Thanks for reminding me! (I use Illustrator just infrequently enough to forget where things are... like the scissors!)

I figured there was some sort of alt or shift 'constraint' that would let me 'pull' an arc in the same way I can pull a semi-circle. IOW: is there a 'trick' that will let me stretch both handles of an arc in one go and -know- they are symmetrical? Like I said, XTream does this but it was driving me -nuts- trying to get both sides of an arc 'balanced'.